Prayer TIMES

 


It was his turn to lead prayers/take the rosary that day. Everyone was gathered in the living room and he that was to lead was the last to stroll in, lackadaisically.
The only expression that gave Daddy away was the raised eyebrow. 

I'm sure he was thinking, "This boy, this boy! See the way he is strolling in for prayers! Lord!!"
He may not have been thinking about it. With him, you never could tell! 

So the prayer starts with a Bible study. The person to lead the bible study for that day did justice.
Prayer time reaches, big bros, come to show himself (gave himself away).🀦🏻‍♀️

It had become the norm to gather in the main living room at 8:00pm every day for prayers and Bible study. There was no escaping it. 
From trying to dodge till we began to look forward to it. Everyone took turns in leading. 

No matter where we were or what we were doing, Prayer Time was Prayer Time. We would leave everything we were doing to ensure we were home on or before time, if not...
Hmmm! Baban Kim will speak English for you that day and you wouldn't want that😁. You wouldn't want that at all...

After the passage for the day is read by the leader, he or she would further break down the scripture with examples and possibly other scriptures, explaining. 
Then anyone who had anything to add would be allowed to before the prayer segment would begin.

Boss (Daddy's nickname then) wasn't playing. He had to show us the way of the Lord. 
From not being able to recite the Rosary to knowing all the mysteries. 

The way it worked, when it's Rosary time, the leader would start, then the rest would respond. In the next decade, everyone starts and the leader responds. So you can't afford not knowing because shame go catch you (you'll be ashamed). 

Big bros on the other hand used to skip prayer times. He attended a few but was out most times. I mean, how can he be caught at home that early, an undergraduate, when there are babes to chase πŸ˜πŸ˜‚πŸ˜€?
Abeg make una no tell am oooo. 

Most times, when it was his turn, he was not usually home.
But t on that particular day, Popsie meant him. He pre-informed him and told him to ensure he was home. He reminded him the next morning. I think it was during one of those long ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) strikesπŸ˜•, that's why he was home. 

Anyway, he starts the rosary with; 
"In the name of the father"... everyone responds.
Then "Glory be to the father"... We all respond. 
Our Father, who art in Heaven... Everyone responds.
Okay, so he was feeling cool.

Then he gets to the next stage, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee..." and then begins to hurriedly mutter something on.
Trust children!
Everyone frowns, wondering what he was saying. Instead of us responding and covering up for him. 
Daddy looks at him above the rim of his glasses and says, "Slow down, start again."
Chai!

He goes again, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm. .."
This time around,  everyone gets the drift, he no sabi (he didn't know what should follow)πŸ™†! Yepa! 

Daddy, still trying to give him the benefit of doubt, calls his name and says, "Take it easy, slow down, no one is chasing you."

Omo, everyone hold belle (held themselves) from laughter. But the last two, they couldn't control it. They laughed out loud. Big bros turn towards them, frowns tells them to mechionu (keep quiet) and faces his father's wrath. "Start again," daddy repeated with a very serious look. Bros no sabi but he no fit tell Baba that, as everything he needed for learning was available but he didn't have time for that.

He starts again and this time all ears were opened, waiting to hear. Nna, he did the same thing. It took great discipline to bite back the laughter, but the last two...
They laughed till they ended up getting punished for laughing at their seniors' misery publicly.
Daddy doesn't take disrespect for your seniors, no matter what.

They knelt down throughout the rest of the prayer. Someone had to take over. 
To date, I don't know what daddy discussed with him after that day's prayer. He probably chastised him, but we don't know and would never know what ensued.

He began to pay more attention to prayer and Bible study time.
Of course, he still skipped some but he was more available during prayer times. He comes in shortly before prayer time and disappears afterwards. 

SO...

Have fun! Find the fun side of every situation. 
 
As always,  life is short, life is transient. Enjoy your life.

Live! Love! Laugh!


 

Comments

  1. Sannu da aiki mama na. Good one! I could relate. My own na sleep. Once rosary starts, sleep go come. Na koboko Major de take wake us and those awake dare not give you expo!

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    Replies
    1. πŸ˜‚πŸ˜ƒπŸ˜…πŸ˜‚πŸ˜ƒπŸ˜…
      Oh my goodness! I can imagine being woken up and at the same time expected to catch up. What punishment!

      Delete
  2. I remember family prayer time πŸ˜€,brings back memories.

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  3. Hmmn, my father. You couldn't afford to not be awake during prayer time at 5/5.30am or you get a shocking cold water bath in bed. Doze during prayers and you get a sprinklin'🀣🀣🀣. Your opening Psalms also must be intact or you hear English from my father πŸ€£πŸ˜…πŸ˜…πŸ˜…. But those times formed part of the building blocks for my prayer life. Beautiful memories.

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